Things to Do for Christmas 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio

Visitors to and residents of Cleveland, Ohio, can celebrate Christmas 2009 in the city and local area by viewing more than 70 professionally decorated Christmas trees, seeing the Black Nativity, which is the gospel according to St. Luke retold with the music and dance of the Black church, enjoying Christmas at the Hale Farm, seeing the holiday display at the Rockefeller Greenhouse, seeing The Christmas Carol, enjoying holiday concerts by the Cleveland Orchestra, and in many other ways.

The Festival of the Trees, which includes more than 70 professionally decorated Christmas trees in the Cleveland Play House, runs through December 31.

The Black Nativity, which isat Karamu House, was written by Cleveland native, Langston Hughes. The event is a tradition in the city. The 2008 version started December 5 and will run until December 28. Those attending can see the old story of how the Son of God was born as a baby, to start his mission, which would culminate with Him dying on a cross to give a home in heaven to believers, set to the music and dance of the Black church. For ticket information, call 216 795-7077.

Another way of celebrating Christmas 2009 in Cleveland is at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. The garden, which combines indoor exhibits a glasshouse and ten acres of exhibits, will feature large gingerbread houses, lights, trees, and other decorations.

Visitors can see the holiday lights at the Blossom Music Center Grounds in Cuyahoga Falls, through December 14 and from December 18 until January 4. The event is Sunday through Thursday 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Viewing A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens at the Ohio Theater at Playhouse Square has become a traditional way of celebrating Christmas in Cleveland, and the holiday season for 2009 is no different. The play runs until December 23. For ticket information, call 216 241-6000.

One can get a feel of what it was like to celebrate Christmas in the 19th century by celebrating Christmas at the Hale Farm in Bath. The remaining dates include December 19-23 and December 12-13. Those attending get to take a lantern tour of the historic site and get to see those at the farm decked out in traditional attire of the time period. For more information, call 330 666-3711 or 877 HALEFARM.

Those in Cleveland can see the play, A Christmas Story, at the Bolton Theater through December 21. The popular movie of the same name was actually filmed in Cleveland. For more information, call 216 795-7000.

The Cleveland Orchestra and Orchestra Chorus will be performing a series of holiday concerts from December 12 to December 23 at Severance Hall.

For more information about ways of celebrating Christmas 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio, the website, http://cleveland.about.com, has information.

Citations:

Cleveland Holiday Activities, no author listed, Cleveland.about.com

Cleveland Play House Festival of the Trees, no author listed, Cleveland.about.com

Cleveland Botanical Garden, no author listed, Cleveland.about.com